MadTracks -- 'Jman's Blues' by The Midwest Beat

The Midwest Beat have been an entertaining band to spy on since their formation in fall 2005, its members being singer/guitarists Ryan Adams and Matt Joyce, singer/bassist Logan Kayne and drummer Christopher Capelle.

Despite a mid-show breakup last year (shortly after recording a number of tracks with Kyle Motor at The Rock'n'Roll Recording Co.), they have sporadically resurfaced on the local scene. The Beat plans to release the now-completed recordings as an EP in the very near future, with early summer shows planned for Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay.

The intertwining guitar riffs and tight vocal backing of "JMan's Blues" draw a direct line to Merseybeat, but the song manages to make the familiar formula sound new again. The band's mix of crisp '60s melodies garnished with manic energy and occasional country flourishes is sometimes reminiscent of a more tuneful Black Lips, and sometimes of the more rockin' songs by the original Flying Burrito Brothers.

It's difficult not to bounce along with the beat, and the release of the Midwest Beat EP should be a welcome addition to any pop-garage fan's collection.

A MP3 of the track is available in the related downloads at right.

MadTracks highlights and provides MP3s of songs performed by local musicians. All tracks here are provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.